Vale of Glamorgan

Vale of Glamorgan's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and religion.

The population reached nearly 130,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Vale of Glamorgan increased by 5.9%, from just over 119,000 to 126,000.

The addition of about 7,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Vale of Glamorgan was home to, on average, 2.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Vale of Glamorgan

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Vale of Glamorgan increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This affluent area had a slightly higher average age than Chorley, a statistically similar local authority area (41 years of age) and became slightly older than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 12% of people in Vale of Glamorgan are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Welsh language in Vale of Glamorgan

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Vale of Glamorgan remained close to 11% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 455 more people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 6,447.

In nearby Cardiff, 11% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, up from 11% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Fewer homes with children

This area saw Wales' second-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

During this period, Vale of Glamorgan overtook to become the Wales local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of households with children.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (30%) households in Vale of Glamorgan had at least one dependent child, compared with 33% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 58% to 60%.

The largest decrease occurred in Isle of Anglesey (from 29% to 25%).

The proportion of households with children was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Rise in private renting

This area saw Wales' third-largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

During this period, Vale of Glamorgan overtook Isle of Anglesey, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire to become the Wales local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of private renting.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households in Vale of Glamorgan rented privately, compared with 7.9% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 13% to 12%.

The largest increase occurred in Cardiff (from 11% to 22%) followed by Newport (from 5.4% to 14%).

Private renting in Vale of Glamorgan increased by 6.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff and Wales that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

This area saw Wales' third-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (49%) people aged 16 and over in Vale of Glamorgan said they were married, compared with 55% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 25% to 31%.

The largest decrease occurred in Blaenau Gwent (from 51% to 45%) followed by Swansea (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of married people was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

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